Wintersleep – Welcome to the Night Sky

Though your iTunes may classify Welcome to the Night Sky as “pop”, Wintersleep’s latest record is anything but. The ten tracks are held together by a distinct rawness that seems to be getting harder to find these days. Three years in the making, Welcome is the third full length album from the Halifax rockers.

What makes this record stand out is its turn towards faster tempos. Intentional or not, the catchier beats in tracks like “Oblivion” and “The Archaeologist” help the band gain mainstream attention. The best example of this is the album’s first single, “Weighty Ghost”. With hand claps in the verses and a sing-along chorus, the track proves that alternative rock can be incredibly catchy. Yet perhaps what is so impressive about this record is that the band is able to make their music more radio friendly without compromising their artistic integrity. In fact, lyrically and musically, Welcome to the Night Sky comes off as even more honest and carefully crafted than their previous releases.

Many of the songs show an underlying theme of questioning existence. In “Dead Letter and the Infinite Yes,” Paul Murphy articulates, “My therapist said, ‘we evolved through a series of accidents’/ There’s been talk of chemical imbalances/ Restless sense of detachment, nausea and or violence … I think it’s coming and it comes so fast.” Similar sentiments can be found in “Astronaut” and “Laser Beams,” among others. Tracks like “Drunk on Aluminum,” are considerably more cryptic. Though each track is different, the crunchy guitars and unpolished vocals throughout tie the album together.

Cryptic or not, it’s interesting that none of the lyrics are featured on the record’s 18 panel fold-out. Instead, the insert depicts a sparse embroidered nature scene. Like the music, the poster is dark, lonely, raw and powerful all at the same time. True to their “indie” rep, the album cover is a chalk sketch, drawn by none other than the lead singer himself. As for record labels, though, I am not sure how much longer Wintersleep can stay independent. With honest lyrics, raw vocals and just the right amount of distortion, Wintersleep have created a distinct sound that sets them apart from the indie folk scene that has been popular lately. Their influence on Canadian rock is undeniable, as within months of releasing “Weighty Ghost,” the track was covered by Land of Talk’s acoustic EP.

With one of this year’s best rock outings, Wintersleep have proven that they play by no one’s rules but their own.

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Tagged as: Alternative Rock, canada, Halifax

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